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Pediatric Sedation Dentistry

Children, like many adults, can experience dental anxiety. It’s common for them to feel anxious at the dentist’s office, especially since it’s a new and unfamiliar environment.

Children experiencing anxiety or those with special needs who are unable to cooperate for necessary dental treatment may benefit from anesthesia services.

When you and your child come in for your appointment, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr. Thoms, or Dr. Behl will work with you to determine the best option based on your child’s anxiety level and ability to cooperate. We look forward to meeting you!

Pediatric Dentistry St Louis
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.

The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!

Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!

Compassionate and Customized Dental Care for Kids

We understand that every child is unique, and some may experience anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or medical conditions that make traditional dental treatments challenging. Our pediatric dentist anesthesiologists are trained to address these concerns with empathy and expertise, delivering personalized care tailored to your child’s needs.

Dentistry for Children with Special Needs

Finding a pediatric dentist for special needs can sometimes be challenging. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, our pediatric dental anesthesia specialists have advanced training to interact positively with children with anxiety and special needs. Our office is fully equipped to accommodate patients with special needs, allowing us to deliver care in a relaxed and comfortable environment for you and your child.

We provide dental care for children with special needs, such as:

  • Trauma or PTSD
  • ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Sensory processing sensitivities
  • Behavioral or emotional challenges

Children with anxieties, phobias, severe gag reflexes, or difficulty getting numb are also candidates for our general anesthesia services.

What You Can Do to Help Your Child?

Positivity is Key!!! At a child’s first dental visit, parents play a vital role in creating a positive experience by “setting the stage.” Any fear or anxiety presented by the parents will be “picked up” by the child.

Parents can help ease their child’s dental anxiety by bringing them to their dental visits. When children see their parents go to the dentist, it lets them know it is not scary. Introducing the child to the dental office’s waiting room a few days before the dental visit will help the child feel familiar.

Please do not tell your child that something will hurt or be painful. This will only increase your child’s anxiety. Our main goal is to relieve our patient’s discomfort and restore their mouths to a healthy state. We strive to make all of our patients as comfortable as possible.

Are You Looking for a Pediatric Dentist Near You?

Call Us Today

The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.

Why Choose The Dental Anesthesia Center?

  • Certified Anesthesia Expertise: Our team is certified to safely administer sedation and general anesthesia, ensuring your child’s comfort and safety.
  • State-of-the-Art Facility: Our office is equipped with advanced technology designed to provide the highest level of care.
  • Experienced Team: With years of specialized training, our staff is prepared to handle complex dental needs in a calm and nurturing environment.
  • Family-Centered Care: We partner with parents every step of the way, providing clear communication and support throughout the process.
Service Dog at the Dentist Office

Accommodations for Service Dogs

We welcome children who rely on service dogs for support. We understand the vital role these trained companions play in providing comfort and assistance during potentially stressful situations. Our facility is service-dog friendly, and we work closely with families to ensure the child and their service dog feel comfortable during the visit. From creating a designated space for the service dog to stay close by during treatment to accommodating any specific needs, we strive to make the dental experience smooth and supportive for all involved.

If your child uses a service dog, let us know in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements to provide a stress-free and welcoming environment.